"So long, Kipper. And don't you go losing that money. It's caused too much worry already."
"I'll take care of it—don't you fuss about that. There are no rips in my coat lining."
Thus they parted—the happiest pair of boys in all Burmingham.
CHAPTER XVIII
GRADUATION
Thus did Paul's troubles dissolve in air and with the June winds blow far away. In the meantime graduation came and the essay he delivered was clicked off on Mr. Carter's typewriter which, considering the fact that it was a second-hand one, was an amazingly fresh and unscarred machine.
Nor was this all. After the graduation exercises had come to a close, and the audience was passing out of the building, Mr. Cameron and the publisher of the Echo came face to face in the corridor. They had not met since the famous mayoral campaign when Carter, by means of wholesale bribery, had swept all before him. Hence the present encounter was an awkward one and many a citizen of Burmingham stopped to witness the drama. Had the two men been able to avoid the clash they would undoubtedly have done so; but the hallway was narrow and escape was impossible. Here they were wedged in the crowd, each of them having come hither to see his son take his diploma. It was a day of rejoicing and no time for grudges.
Melville was at his father's elbow while at Mr. Cameron's heels tagged Paul, hot, tired, but victorious.
The instant the group collided the magnate's hand shot out and gripped that of the editor-in-chief of the March Hare.